Collaboration is key to commercialising new ideas, according to Minister Sean Sherlock speaking at the launch of InterTradeIreland’s Innova Programme which offers up to €5 million to help companies benefit from all-island collaborative approaches to R&D. InterTradeIreland is seeking applicants for the 2011/2012 Innova programme which will support 18 collaborative projects with a funding package of up to €300,000 each.

38% of technology companies check out potential employees' profiles on social media sites such as Facebook, according to an international survey by Eurocom Worldwide, the global PR network, in association with Irish agency Simpson Financial & Technology PR.

Waterford Chamber has launched a brand new ‘Free to Members’ seminar series dealing with six key issues facing business today. The ‘6 @ Six’ seminars are aimed at providing business support to member companies through six free 1-hour sessions all commencing at 6pm for six weeks at Waterford Chamber. The Seminar series is also open to non member companies for a fee of €5 per seminar.

CAVA, the Chartered Accountants Voluntary Advice service, has issued a call for more qualified chartered accountants in response to the growing demand for its service from recession-hit owner-managed businesses. Increasing its network of volunteers will enable CAVA to roll out its valued service in more locations across Ireland in 2011. CAVA was established in 2008 by the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society and is run by Chartered Accountants in Ireland who offer their time and services free of charge to individuals who are not in a financial position to acquire these services elsewhere.

Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, has urged businesses to avail of the opportunity to attend a Government sponsored free seminar, ‘Building a Business on Your Ideas’, to be held in the The Ardilaun Hotel, Taylors Hill, Galway City on Thursday 21st April 2011. The seminar, organised by the Patents Office, is for small business-owners, entrepreneurs, inventors and startup companies in Galway and surrounding counties.